00:00Alan, hello sir, how are you? Fine, thank you very much.
00:03You're our main man from Halls? I'm the chairman of Halls, yes, for my sins.
00:07For your sins. And we're down here, just fill us in on what's happening today here then Alan, where we are.
00:11Andrew and Roger, his brother, have sold the farm and they're moving, so they've
00:17sold all the cows, the milking herd, and they are now just going to sell off all
00:23the machinery because they don't need most of this for where they're going and
00:25we'll start at 12 o'clock, the local farmers and farmers from further afield
00:30will come and hopefully give them a good send-off. Do you have people travelling
00:34from some distance for these kind of events? Yeah, yeah we do, and we also have this
00:39Martye system that we're on, a bidding platform, so people from Ireland will
00:44probably be bidding on items and Poland and whatever, we have a big mailing list
00:49of people who will sit in and look at the sale on the bidding platform if
00:52they can't make the dirt journey. So how many times a year would you have
00:55an auction of this type then on a farm? We have them fairly often and we
01:01have regular machinery sales at our market in Shrewsbury, bi-monthly, and we
01:06have them in Kidderminster every month as well, and then we've probably had six
01:11or seven in the last month really. And will it be the case that by the end of
01:15the auction everything will be sold or not necessarily? Yeah, everything will be
01:18sold and then, because Andrew and Roger are moving and will be moving in October
01:22so they won't want to have all these things around. So it's amazing that by
01:28tomorrow morning, lunchtime, most things will be gone.
01:33The Bebb Brothers, how are you lads? Fine, thank you, yes. So we're here today, auction day, big day
01:41for you guys isn't it really? Huge. Yeah, yeah, I mean the farm behind you, that was
01:46the family farm? Yes. So am I right in thinking the building side of
01:50things, that's been sold hasn't it? Yes. Well you're still in the
01:54process of selling it, just a matter of exchanging contracts now, which
01:58are possibly about a week away. Got you. Do you know what will happen with that?
02:01Will there be barn conversions or what the plans are? No, no.
02:06So talk us through it then, how long's the family been farming here? Since 1917.
02:111917, well you weren't a kid back then were you? Not quite. But you've grown up here?
02:18Yeah, yeah, yeah, all my life doing the farming. So what's it been like over the
02:23years, you know, when you think back, a lot of good memories, I mean it
02:27must be an adventurous life for kids growing up on a farm. Yeah, what we're greatly
02:31indebted to is having wonderful, generous and helpful neighbours as well,
02:36farming neighbours, they've been amazing over the years, helped us in
02:41difficult times and enjoyed the good times together as well. What's been the
02:47trickiest time, the low point would you say, over the years, back you know?
02:51I think TB. Yeah, it's been a real challenge. Do you ever see a light at the end of the
03:00tunnel when you're in those kind of phases? I suppose you have to learn to be that type of person when you're a farmer, don't you?
03:10You have to be positive, you have to have a positive outlook on life, yes.
03:15You have to learn to adapt as well, and change your policies and actions according to what's happening,
03:22whether in politics or more recently the weather, the changes in the weather.
03:28That's very true, yeah, so as a farmer I guess you really notice that, don't you?
03:32You know, the way crops and stiffen, it really is changing isn't it? You know,
03:36we hear gardeners talking about it, and you've noticed that yourselves.
03:40So we notice the rainfall, watch that closely, watch the temperatures, whether it's going to be frosty,
03:47or if it's a sunny day we can do some harvesting, so it's all dependent on the weather and politics really.
03:56So it's come to that time, you know, the farming's no more, so what was it that kind of, you know,
04:02you made a big decision and you thought, we've done our bit, was there no new bloodline to take it on,
04:07or is the industry changed and it's too hard, what's your thoughts?
04:11Hi Colin, yeah well Roger's got no kids, I've got three daughters and none of them are interested,
04:16so we're both pensioners now, so it's time to just, I'm downsizing, I'm not retiring, we bought a farm up north.
04:24Oh so you're still farming, you'll still be a farming man then?
04:26Yeah, whereabouts up north roughly then?
04:28Thirsk.
04:29Yeah, yeah, so is that just because that's where the opportunity took you?
04:33Yeah, yeah, yeah, well it's just the right farm and the right location and yeah, so yeah we're going for it up there.
04:40Yeah, what about yourself, is this the end of you as a farmer?
04:43Well I'm doing some charity work in Shrewsbury and moving to Shrewsbury.
04:49I lead a debt advice centre at Barnabas Community Projects.
04:54Oh yeah, we've been there yet.
04:57Great stuff, so it must be emotional, I mean were you kind of accepting of it?
05:02Did you know there wasn't going to be any new bloodline?
05:04Are you here today gutted that there wasn't some sons taking it on or is it just, is that the way it is sort of thing?
05:10A relief in a way, yes, a relief in a way because I've got something to look forward to.
05:17Yeah, time for a change, time for a change really.
05:19What can you tell us about the changes you've seen in the industry then?
05:23Is it harder to make a crust kind of these days than it was?
05:27It's difficult for smaller farmers like we are to make a living.
05:33The industry is growing very large and hundreds of cattle rather than tens of cattle,
05:44so it's much harder to make a living with smaller numbers really.
05:49I was told that actually, someone said actually there's probably more dairy farming in Shropshire than there's ever been,
05:53but less farms, you know what I mean, because it's at all that bigger scale and the machinery.
05:58It's the way of the world unfortunately, I mean there were 360,000 milk producers in the UK back in the day,
06:05but we're down to about 7,000 now.
06:07That's crazy isn't it really when you think about it like that.
06:10So over the years, 25 years ago we decided to go organic,
06:15to get out of the constant price pressure that we were facing with the lower and lower milk prices.
06:23So becoming organic, it was a niche market and it still is a niche market.
06:27Did that work for you then, that was a good move at the time?
06:30It did because it's what we enjoy doing, looking after the animals, looking after the soil, which is really important.
06:39Yeah, so it's been positive and it's what I've enjoyed doing.
06:45One thing I wanted to say is that at this point last week we had to sell the cows,
06:50they were all destined to go straight to the slaughterhouse.
06:53Unfortunately at the 11th hour, a buyer came in and he sold all the cows.
07:00All of them, how many was that then?
07:02It was about 95 head I think, 90 head.
07:05So that's a bit of a logistics move in that many.
07:09So where have they gone off to then?
07:11They're going to a guy at Landrinio, so they're not going too far away.
07:15Oh fantastic, well that was nice then wasn't it?
07:18It was great, it was great.
07:22We weren't sitting comfortably with the fact that we're closed down with TV
07:25and you're limited as to what you can do with the stock
07:27and the only option was they had to go to the slaughterhouse after four buyers pulled out.
07:32So we were very, very lucky that the 11th hour to find a buyer that was willing to take the stock home.
07:37So we're very grateful for him.
07:40So the buildings are gone, by the end of today the equipment will be gone.
07:44So will you be a shed of tea and a tipple later on down the pub
07:51or is it you're too busy at the minute to even think?
07:54Yeah, well my wife's still got stock 12 miles away so I'll be down there helping her.
07:58So you're straight back into the thick of it, it never ends does it?
08:02We've still got a number of cows so I'm going to milk them tomorrow morning,
08:08dry them all off and they're all going to a new farm.
08:12And for the cows it's a new life, it's a change of lifestyle for them.
08:16So they're going to be sucking calves rather than going through the milking parlour
08:21which I'm sure they'll be very happy when you farm.
08:27Yeah.
08:28And was there any competition as brothers when you were farming or was it team effort?
08:34We've done our own thing really, we've got our different areas of expertise
08:39and we've just divided the jobs up and just got on with it.
08:43That's right, we've just had different roles and kept to them really.
08:48And will you be taking a souvenir from here?
08:50I can see there's a sign plaque on the wall here, is there anything you'll be taking?
08:54Some workshop tools that we have.
08:56Yeah, some nice old tools.
08:58Don't forget the welder.
09:00I'm taking some horse shoes.
09:02Oh yeah, how fantastic.
09:04That's not for my lifetime but my father's lifetime.
09:08He loved the horses.
09:10So was it your father that started the farm?
09:12No, grandfather.
09:13Grandfather, what was grandfather's name?
09:15James.
09:17Well, thanks for having us down here at Shropshire Star.
09:22It sounds like you're both going to be just as busy as ever frankly.
09:26Thank you gents.
09:28Cheers lads.
09:29Super.
09:30How you doing Graham, you okay sir?
09:31I'm alright, thank you.
09:32Local farmer yourself?
09:33Yeah, from my action burner.
09:35Cool.
09:36And are you down here looking to buy something?
09:39No, just supporting him a bit.
09:42Does it make you reflect on your own farming life when you see a family farm of so many years kind of going?
09:48Yeah, it's a bit sad, isn't it?
09:50Yeah, yeah.
09:51How is it your end in the industry?
09:53What's your take on it?
09:54Doing alright?
09:55Well, I wouldn't do anything else if I had my time over again.
09:58We'll keep farming until it's all gone.
10:00Yeah, yeah.
10:01Birdoos, until it's all gone.
10:03You'll be that last man standing.
10:05Well, thank you Graham.
10:13You've got your points with you.
10:15Access.
10:16And one other thing.
10:19No access by the house, okay?
10:21If anybody wants to pick anything up off the field, come off the track by the car park or up here through the yard and round.
10:29Over you know please.
10:30All the ladies and gentlemen, if you'd like to come this way.
10:35Right, ladies and gentlemen, lot number one.
10:37Ah, there we go, we've got someone interested in last.
10:39There we are then.
10:40Lot number one.
10:41You've got the 14x14 little arble milking parlour with the cluster flushes, air wash.
10:46There's 14 harmony clusters there with the vacuum pipes and the plate cooler, alright?
10:51That is what you're buying.
10:53The clusters, the vacuum pipe and the plate cooler.
10:56The feeders and the control boxes and augers are a separate lot.
11:01And then you've got the combi pasteuriser in the next room which is also separate as well.
11:05The rubber floor mats are available to be sold as well but they are a different lot.
11:08The first lot though is the clusters, the vacuum pipes and the plate coolers, okay?
11:13So, for the first lot then, where are you going to be for that then?
11:16You tell me.
11:17Put them in for the clusters, the vacuum pipes and the plate coolers there.
11:20Where are you going to be for those then?
11:21A couple of thousand for it?
11:22A thousand? A thousand? A thousand? Eight hundred?
11:24Five will go for the clusters then.
11:25Five hundred? Five? Two?
11:27A hundred pound will go then on the four.
11:29Why isn't this just found the last of tomorrow?
11:31Five hundred? Five hundred?
11:33A hundred pound you're not waiting for it?
11:34A hundred pound? No?
11:35If no, go then ladies and gentlemen.
11:36I think we'll give that a miss.
11:37Right. We now go to then the fourteen, two thousand ...
11:41Five, five, five, five, five, five, five, five.
11:42Show me now then.
11:43Five pound for the clay tyres then.
11:45Five? Out.
11:46Thank you Mr. Keir, five pounds.
11:48As before.
11:49Right. Now then, we go to ...
11:51... the tanker.
11:52Five pounds? Thousands? Eight hundred?
11:53Five will weigh in if you want it.
11:55Five?
11:56Bid, sir?
11:57Bidding?
11:58No, checks, sir, before the trial.
12:00Five will weigh in for it?
12:01Five?
12:02Two is it. I've got two on a bid?
12:03That's two hundred. Two hundred, two hundred.
12:04That's two hundred, two hundred, two hundred, two hundred.
12:062.20, 2.50, 2.80, 3.20, 5.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50
12:3680. Mr. Hill at 590.
Comments